Oilt Pastel Landscape Critique Request

[Pat K.]

Hi everyone,

I'm new, so my apologies if I'm posting to the wrong forum . I was just hoping maybe I could get a few critiques on a couple of my oil pastel landscapes. I'm always looking to improve, so please don't hold back the criticism. Of course it would also be helpful to hear what looks good, so I can continue doing it in the future. I've attached two pictures below. Both are Sennelier oils on 11"x14" run-of-the-mill sketch paper. Since finding a passion for pastels, I've invested in better quality paper, but these were two of my first, so I didn't want to spend too much on materials. Sorry for the poor picture quality. Unfortunately, I had to take these pictures with my phone. It's the only camera I have

Thanks!
Patrick

[halthepainter]

Hi Pat K. yes you're in the correct place and welcome to our forum.

We have just started a new month of challenges and we would be delighted to have you join in on our August Challenge.

Your sunrise (since you're from Maryland) is quite enjoyable with all it's bright vivid colors. The complementary colors between the red sky and the blue foreground are quite dramatic.

What a lot of drawing on the bridge and the sky is quite interesting. I question some of your prespective, especially dealing with the bridge pilings.

I think we are seeing the right piling much too face on.....

Also the piling's reflection in the water (especially the left one) wouldn't narrow as it approaches the viewer.

You're using an excellent brand of oil pastels and I hope you'll join our challenges and let us see more of your work.

[Pat K.]

Hi Hal,

Thanks for the invite! I was actually browsing around this morning and thought maybe I'd like to give it a try. I'm actually working on a drawing for the August pen and ink challenge as well .

Thanks for the compliments on both pieces!

I've noticed some perspective issues with the bridge also. The reflections are a little off and, like you said, the pilings on the bridge aren't correct. I would have also liked to add a little more variation of values to the trees in the background, but I was working with only the 24 set. The sky is also a little too busy . I wish I could've taken some better pictures. The features are all very blurry, and the bridge is actually more defined in person. Many of the strokes along the top are pure yellows and oranges to show the light from the lamps. There are also a lot of reflected blues on the underside of the bridge to separate the it from the background, and to show the reflection of the water.

Glad you liked them, and thanks for the help!

-Patrick

[Pat Isaac]

Welcome to the OP forum, Patrick.... you are in the right palce. Always happy to have more people take up oil pastels.
The beach scene is wonderful, great sky and feeling of heat. I do agree with Hal on the bridge structure.
Looing forwared to seeing more.

Pat

[Pat K.]

Thanks for the compliments and welcome, Pat! I agree, the perspective on the bridge is off. Unfortunately, it's too late to fix... I've already given it to a friend, but I'll work on my perspective in the future.

I looked around your website a little and I am in awe...... Your skill with oil pastel is absolutely incredible. You have an astounding style and technique, and I'd love to be able to do something half as good someday. Truly inspirational work, keep it up!

Patrick

[Pat Isaac]

Thanks so much Patrick for your kind words. I keep working on it.

Pat

[Flycatcher10]

Hi Patrick - welcome to the OP forum! Wow, nice work for your first tries at OPs. Looking forward to seeing more of your OP paintings.

Both pieces have beautiful sky work - different and yet capture my attention equally. Nice cloud structures and coloring. The beach scene is my favorite -nice work capturing the hillsides and stairsteps going down toward the sea.

[Pat K.]

Hi Mary,

Thanks for the compliments! I always find myself questioning my sky work, so it's great to hear they look good!

Patrick

[PaulsArt]

These are really nice Patrick. I wouldn't have guessed you were new to oil pastels. Just a few ideas to throw out. The water reflections are usually somewhat darker than the object reflected. That is helpful to do even if they don't really appear much darker as it helps the viewer get it in their head that they are looking at a reflection. It is kind of like atmospheric hazing in landscapes. You can add blue and fuzziness to background objects to create the appearance of distance.

I love your sky effects. Your beach scene sky is real nice. I'd like to see a little harder line for the horizon and darker reflection there also. All in all tho you are doing great. Keep it up!

[Pat K.]

Hey Paul,

Thanks for the compliments . I don't usually have a lot of confidence in my skies, so I'm really glad to hear that you like them!

I definitely agree about the reflections, though. Actually, the sunset was one of the main things I'd decided I'd do differently given another chance. The sky and water really seem to blend together, which leaves the center sort of empty in a way.

I've been incorporating water into a lot of my recent work so I can practice and experiment with the effects of light and reflections on it. I struggle with the movement of the water in particular. I feel as though I'm missing a few small details that will help me to more effectively suggest the "texture" (for lack of a better word) of the water, but they've eluded me so far .

Thanks again for the kind words and suggestions!
Patrick

[TamaraB]

Your skies are beautiful...

[Pat K.]

Thanks Tamara !

Patrick